Three men in Mexico have been convicted of murdering two Australian brothers and their American friend at a well-known surfing destination.
Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, were travelling along Mexico’s Pacific coast with their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, when they were killed in Baja California state.
The three men were camping in a remote area beside the beach when they were attacked in April 2024.
Their bodies were discovered several days after they disappeared, abandoned in a shaft on a clifftop. Each had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
On Friday, a Mexican court found Jesús Gerardo, known as ‘El Kekas’, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús guilty of aggravated homicide and several related offences. Their full names have been withheld for legal reasons.
Judge Raúl Hernández Arellano delivered the verdict at Ensenada court after a five-week trial.
Jake and Callum’s parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, sat holding hands as the guilty verdicts were read out.
Ms Robinson urged the court to impose the maximum prison sentences allowed.
“No sentence can bring Callum and Jake back; nothing can undo what has happened, but accountability matters,” she said in a victim impact statement.
Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, pictured with their parents, were killed during a surfing trip to Mexico’s Pacific coast in Baja California
The brothers were camping in a remote beachside area when they were attacked in April 2024
Jake and Callum’s parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, held hands as the guilty verdicts were announced
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The couple attended every day of the proceedings, including six hours of closing arguments on October 8, seated just metres away from the three defendants.
Ms Robinson wept and embraced an Australian consular representative after the verdict was delivered.
Prosecutors said the three tourists were killed during a robbery that spiralled out of control. The defence argued that there was not enough evidence to establish the men’s guilt.
The judge nevertheless found that several witnesses had given credible and consistent evidence.
One of those witnesses was Ari Gisell, the former girlfriend of Jesús Gerardo. She had previously been jailed for her role in instigating the robbery that resulted in the killings.
Gisell told the court that Gerardo had described the victims pleading for their lives before they were killed, and later joked about the men crying.
Judge Raúl Hernández Arellano offered his condolences to the Robinson family, saying he was ashamed that the murders had taken place in his country and wanted to ensure justice was carried out within the limits of Mexican law.
The three men are due to be sentenced on October 16.
Jake, 30, was a doctor who was due to take up a position at a hospital in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, after returning to Australia.
His older brother Callum, 33, was a professional lacrosse player based in San Diego, in the US
Following the verdict, Debra and Martin were due to travel to the US before making the journey back to their home in Perth in the coming days.
